41st NSRA Louisville Nationals - The 41st Time Around Is A Plus

For years comedians, and road-weary journalists, have said, "If this is Friday it must be Springfield." Oftentimes the memory of going back to one location time and time again conjures thoughts of "not again," "boring!" and, my favorite, "who did I piss off?" Not so and no way. Louisville, by whatever happenstance, is the rodding capital of the world-not just the good ol' U.S. of A. We are talking about the 41st running (this is Kentucky) of the National Street Rod Association's premier event: the Street Rod Nationals Plus.

2/117It was a first but seemed perfectly natural: A Model A sedan going one way and a '55 Chevy going the other on the Kentucky Exposition Fairgrounds, which has been the continuous home to the NSRA Nats since 1998.

Threw you a curve? What's this "Plus?" Could it be that the NSRA has acknowledged the modern day rodder's waist size has begun measuring on its second yardstick? Nope, it means there's a change for the first time in 41 years within this hallowed event. Don't get us wrong, the Nats Plus still offers everything non-plus Nats had come to be known for-10,000-plus (there's that word again) street rods, literally 750,000-plus (again!) square feet of indoor exhibit space (with incredible air conditioning), a Builder's Showcase displaying the finest rolling examples our hobby has to offer, new products (where the latest our supporting industry has produced is unveiled), Rod Repair Shop (for the unscheduled maintenance), numerous outdoor events, entertainment, and related activities. The NSRA Nats Plus had everything we have come to want (and expect) with one noticeable change.

The Nats has always been a pre-'49 event until this year and the 41st annual event was expanded to cover post-'48 cars and trucks, and established a sliding scale so each year vehicles that are 30-years-plus may attend all NSRA events. Hence, the use of the word "Plus" when referring to an NSRA event. (Editor's note: The NSRA did produce a handful of NSRA Street Machine Nationals back in the '70s and the pre- and post-'48 events were held on bookend weekends. The NSRA was ahead of its time and it's unfortunate they didn't stick with the formula, for they had a winner.)

3/117UPS was on hand once again to check vehicle weight (total weight, front versus rear, and wheelbase). The STREET RODDER/Alloway's Hot Rod Shop project build (see February 2011) five-window came in with a 109-inch wheelbase; 2,730 pounds with 1,261 on the front and 1,469 on the back-good balance.

All of us have seen plenty of pre-'49 street rods and are willing to see more more, and the Nats didn't disappoint. The bonus this year was seeing hot rod material from the '50s and beyond that offered a change of pace and some great new ideas. Were there some cars of questionable content? Of course, just like there is always pre-'49 iron (and 'glass) that could use a great deal of massaging, and that's how they were treated.

Follow along as the rest of the STREET RODDER staff zeroed in on many of the worthwhile attractions at the Nats Plus-Eric Geisert takes us through both the Builder's Showcase and New Products; Chuck Vranas has a look at the '40 Ford (as it's the 70th anniversary) and his selections for the Best Ford in Ford; then, Tim Bernsau walks us through the aisles of the Swap Meet, always a favorite; and finally Bernsau and Gerry Burger walk a whole lot more aisles, showing us what was taking up all those parking spots around the Kentucky Exposition Fairgrounds. I on the other hand concentrated on the ice cream, sugar-coated baked goods, and fried edibles, of which I am not sure of the origin, but I am around to write this story so it couldn't have been that bad. Hope to see you next year in Louisville with the hot rod of your choice.

4/117Tim and Chris Lies came down from Illinois with their '56 Ford two-tone wagon. It's fun seeing wagons, a model of car we normally wouldn't see at the Nats.

NSRA Nats Plus
Builder's Showcase
For the past five years, the National Street Rod Association has set aside a portion of the large convention center (the cavernous hallway between the vendors inside and the cars outside) to showcase a select group of car builders. The idea is, as the NSRA's Tom Vogele tells it, with 10,000 to look at, why not celebrate the shops and the builders? It's a good idea, and 28 cars and trucks were put on display this time out, and STREET RODDER wanted to give you a taste of what was there.

Best Ford in a Ford
Gary McCormick East Peoria, IL'49 Ford woodie
Celebrating the 41st Anniversary of the NSRA Street Rod Nationals, it was the perfect time for STREET RODDER and Ford Racing to recognize street rodders who install a late-model Ford engine in their Ford.

42/117The Ford wagon had a perfect stance, immaculate woodwork, a subtle green exterior, and wide whites on steelies making it the ultimate cruiser.

With this being the first year for post-'48 era cars to cruise the fairgrounds, our search led us to Gary McCormick of East Peoria, Illinois, with his freshly completed '49 Ford wagon powered by a 351ci Ford Racing crate V-8 linked to a Ford AOD transmission. To give the car a great stance, its original chassis was massaged and updated with a polished stainless Heidts IFS while a 9-inch rear by John's Industries transfers the power. Once the body was razor sharp it was coated with plenty of PPG Mack Truck Green to give it a fine vibe, while the exterior wood was completed at Wood by Whiskers. Inside the car was treated to yards of buttersoft leather by Steve and Marilyn Ralfs. A combined effort, the woody came together through the hard work of Ken's Street Rod Repair in Rockford, Illinois, and Gray's Garage in Metamora, Illinois. Congratulations to Gary who will receive a limited edition jacket as an award winner.

Best Ford in a Ford
Chuck Gray, Metamora, IL '32 Ford Victoria
While canvassing the event, Chuck Gray's '32 Ford Vicky from Metamora, Illinois, caught our attention with its well-detailed Ford 302ci crate V-8 linked to a Ford C4 transmission. Chuck's well-traveled Ford has an original chassis updated by Everett Gray to include a polished stainless Heidts IFS and a narrowed Jaguar rearend with plenty of plating and polish. An original steel body was massaged to perfection by the owner who also laid down the vivid PPG Sonic Blue coating complemented by alluring graphics by Bob Thrash. Classic Halibrand wheels shod with BFGoodrich rubber keeps everything stylish while inside an ididit column, Lokar shifter, and VDO gauges help Chuck settle into plenty of comfort as he heads down the road. Congratulations to Chuck who will receive a limited edition jacket as an award winner.

47/117Chuck's Deuce is all business with thousands of miles already on the odometer. A nose in the dirt stance complemented by a mirror-straight steel body, vibrant blue gloss, and Halibrand rollers gives it plenty of allure.

Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the '40 Ford
This was the year we celebrated one of Ford's truly memorable designs with the '40 Ford turning 70 years old. Recognized as one of the notable iconic sculptures to roll off the Ford production line, it shared its good looks with a myriad of body styles. Throughout the weekend at the Nationals, we came across countless examples of the model with everything from bone-stockers to candy-coated chopped coupes, pickup trucks, slammed sedans, and drop-tops making the scene. One thing is for sure, this beloved design has certainly earned its place in history.

52/117Coated with effervescent light blue pearl, Tony and Sue Paris' sedan was packed with all the right stuff, including Vintage Air, Boyd Coddington wheels, and a comfy bucket interior.

Street Rod Plus
Sometimes more is better-when it's sheetmetal
This is a pivotal year for the National Street Rod Association as they adopt the sliding scale dates to all events. From this day forward if you have a car 30 years or older you are welcomed at the Street Rod Nationals Plus. And if you happen to be driving a car manufactured in 1949 or newer you are officially considered a Plus, a term that seems to indicate something positive, or at least in addition to.

After attending 39 out of the 41 Street Rod Nationals I felt the only way to truly experience this historic event would be to drive a "Plus", leaving the '40 pickup in the garage and driving my '57 Ranch wagon to the event. Of course the fact that the '57 Ford is now 53 years old and when I drove my '31 Model A to the Nats in 1972 when it was a mere 41 years old was not lost on me, and yet I was still driving "a late-model" or as NSRA calls them-a Plus.

The ride was relatively uneventful in spite of the dreadful heat. We first made a stop at COMP Cams in Memphis, a small six-hour detour on the way to the Nats and then motored into Louisville on Wednesday. After a brief rain on Thursday the weather went from intolerable to bearable and the fairgrounds began to fill in by late afternoon.

94/117Can you tell the true identity of this roadster pickup? It's built from a cut-down '48 F-1 pickup, with a '55 bed, riding on a Model A frame and wearing a '28 grille. The imaginative hot rod was offered for $14,900, but didn't get sold.

By Saturday afternoon over 10,000 cars crowded the fairgrounds and the mix of street rods and pluses made for a fresh new look to the event. Other than a handful of "protest cars", like a '78 Dodge truck, the event really was the Street Rod Nationals Plus, plus a lot of very cool cars that look great parked among all the pre-'48 hot rods. By the time the weekend was over it was apparent the mixing of old and older was working just fine, so Plus remains a positive, not a negative. It was after a discussion with Editor Brennan on this very topic that he suggested I photograph a few of the cars that caught my eye. And so I offer this small sampling of hot rods that made me stop for a closer look at the first ever NSRA Street Rod Nationals ... Plus. Enjoy.

Varied Treasure
The Street Rod Nats Plus Swap Meet
We don't think of swap meets as cars and parts someone doesn't want. We think of them as previews of coming attractions.

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The Street Rod Nats Plus swap meet, socked back at the northeast portion of the Kentucky Exposition Center grounds, is an annual magnet for buyers and sellers. We know for a fact that a fair number of street rods, and a larger number of parts, on display in the show 'n' shine areas once served their time in the Nats swap meet. As we wound our way through the rows of sellers and stuff, we wondered what some of these vehicles used to be and where some of these parts came from. Now we're wondering about where they will go and what they will become. It's inevitable (isn't it?) that the cars, parts, and pieces on trailers, atop tables, and filling plastic milk crates will one day find the owner they've been looking for and contribute to the success of a street rod project-maybe even a trophy winner.

Late Arrivals
The Street Rod Nationals Plus welcomes post-'48 cars
The NSRA created a real commotion within the hobby when it announced that, after years of limiting the Street Rod Nationals to pre-'49 vehicles, it was modifying the rule and welcoming cars and trucks 30 years old and older.

96/117One of the most beautiful Tri-Five Chevys in Louisville was Emerson Blue's '56 Bel Air hardtop from Fort Washington, MD. Every contemporary modification was done in keeping with the original design of the car, from the five-spokes to the two-tone exterior paint and interior upholstery.

The uproar that followed rang a familiar bell around here. In 2007, after years of maintaining an identical pre-'49 cutoff, the magazine you're reading right now began covering '50s and early '60s cars, even while retaining the STREET RODDER title.

When we got to Louisville this year, we were relieved to see that NSRA's inclusion of later cars didn't prevent the place from filling up with acres of beautiful pre-'49 street rods. We were also happy to find a lot of cool Tri-Fives, shoeboxes, lead sleds, customs, pickups, and other "new" iron-including an outstanding '49 Fleetline featured elsewhere in this issue. Had NSRA not changed its pre-'49 rule, we wouldn't have seen any of these cars. Had STREET RODDER not changed its pre-'49 rule, you wouldn't see this sample of some of the "late arrivals" welcome-for the first time-at the Street Rod Nationals Plus. Enjoy.